COPLEN BOE BOGUET

 

Horseback riding requires skill but what people neglect to understand is that riding also requires inspiration to help improve that skill.

What happens to an adult rider is complacency.  Oftentimes, doing the same thing week after week causes boredom and old, bad habits resurface both with horse and rider.  One of the main components to improving skills is frequent but short lessons to offset the old habits and introduce new, challenging rides for the horse.

Luckily for those of us at RHO, Tom Riley sees our bad habits week after week and is constantly correcting us and keeping us fresh.  Sometimes, however, we still fall back on those habits... Reins too tight, no legs, to far forward in the seat.... all the things every rider hears no matter what the style.

                                                                                 

Riding a cutting horse, however, is a totally different experience.  It’s like sitting in the car of a runaway rollercoaster ... climbing up the tracks of a steep mountain then willingly letting go of the death grip on the seat and surrendering total control of the car as it descends, twists and turns in a wild frenzy. The one and only blessed difference between riding a rollercoaster and a cutting horse is the cutting horse stops with a single command, hopefully the rider does too.

Weekends come and go so quickly for us.  We spend arduous days at work longing for that Saturday and Sunday barn time.  Our weekends at RHO are spent in countless hours of Cutting and Sorting practice.  The cowgirls at RHO, however, always seem to need variety, challenges and a bit of spice to switch up the monotony of weekly practices.  From lime green traffic cone patterns to barrels, invisible cows and parade formations, we usually keep ourselves amused and look ridiculous to all the others not privy enough to be part of our Cowgirl antics.  Hence, nudging Tom Riley about hosting a cutting horse clinic was part of our plan to spice up the act. He agreed and was more than willing to hold an educational fiesta at the barn, however, with Tom; you have to watch what you ask for!

So as a surprise treat for us, Tom invited his very dear friend and cutting champion, COPLEN BOE BOGUET to host a clinic. 

Boe Guets, or BoBo Guets as they call him, is a NCHA champion with over $200,000.00 worth of winnings and is also a renownd cutting horse trainer. Having said that, we were excited and scared out of our spurs to say the least.

The clinic was held on Sept. 8, 2013.  Meeting Bo was one of the highlights of the year for many of us.  Tom spoke highly of him and we heard many stories of his success and trained horses.

Bo shook hands with each of us and called us by name, addressed with Miss. He had a heavy Louisiana accent...more Cajun than English, and we had to strain to understand him.  By the end of the clinic, however, we got it loud and clear.

Now, what makes a good rider is the ability to ride any horse. What makes an even better

rider is to ride any horse under the guidance and instruction of your trainer.  For me, I went into this clinic knowing full well I didn’t want to cut with Bizzy.  I wanted to cut on my little paint mare, Chill, who would undoubtedly shine above the crowd PLUS, I wasn’t afraid on her and would be more than willing to advance.  That wasn’t Tom’s idea for me this time.  I believe he felt that I would do better with Bizzy, since Chill and I were in the middle of a cold war and neither of us would budge.

So, I climbed on Bizzy (before Mr. Bo could see me struggle on the mounting block).... Sue on Hickory, her new gelding of only one week, Donna on Summer and the rest with their trusty cutting horse machines.

The clinic went smooth and each of us gained knowledge and time in the saddle.  It was fun and arduous at the same time. As our names were called to show our stuff, our hearts were in our throats and white-knuckled the saddle horns.  At least, for me, I took solace in knowing Tom’s watchful eye was on each one of us!

   

   

The clinic was a grand success. I loved him, I loved learning and I took away much more than expected.  Bo is an awesome trainer and teacher. His tips and techniques are unmatched; however, as stated before, adults are difficult learners. Bo’s techniques are different ... almost opposite of what I’ve learned from Tom.  Both work, both are correct and both have the same outcome but perfecting something in an already old, senile and confused mind is a whole ‘nother story. This clinic for me was more than an eye-opener. I felt foolish and totally incompetent, therefore any and all fun was flushed for me.

Judgment time came and he called each one of us. As we sat in a circle around him atop our horses, our hearts pounded.  The second day was a competition.  Each one of us attempted to utilize the skills learned from the day before.  As he announced winners, he also critiqued the rides of what we did and didn’t do.

 Miss Sue took second place!  Talk about a rollercoaster... Hickory tossed her around so much her brains were scrambled BUT... she owned that gelding only ONE week and hung on like a true champ.  (Personally, I thought she should have taken first, but one of Tom Riley’s top horses made some girl look good... so she got it)

He got to me... “Miss Misssshale....I think you did very well.  You need confidence and more time under saddle and you’ll be fine.  I am not too impressed, though, with your horse.” Well, of course after that I stopped listening.  Say what you will about me, but not impressed with my horse??  PPPSHAWWW....  Sho Biz Lady is one of the best cutters in the barn... believe me when I tell ya.... A great horse can make a rider look great... but then, a bad rider can make a great horse look like hell.... which is exactly what I did.  I held her back and did nothing I was supposed to... so how well could she perform?  She knew I wasn’t ready and so did I.  As far as I’m concerned, Bizzy was the best performer there.... because she took care of me and didn’t do anything I didn’t ask.... Putting a cutting horse in the middle of a herd and holding it back frustrates and sometimes angers them.  She did her job, which was to take care of me at this particular time, in this particular forum.

I’m waiting for you Mr. Guets... LOL!

 Photos courtesy of Brett's Fire Photos

To see more click:  Cutting Horse Clinic